Cozart homers twice, Reds outslug Brewers in 16-10 win

Milwaukee Brewers' Elian Herrera celebrates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Morry Gash

April 21, 2015

MILWAUKEE (AP) With the ways balls were flying around Miller Park, Tuesday night's meeting between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers felt more like a weekend rec league softball game.

The Reds had more punch and capitalized on Milwaukee mistakes.

Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier each hit two-out grand slams, and Zack Cozart added two homers to power Cincinnati to a 16-10 victory.

''It was one of those games that just didn't seem like it was going to end. Our offense came through,'' Frazier said.

The Reds offense has reawakened for 22 runs in two games in Milwaukee - coming after manager Bryan Price went on a profanity-laced tirade in his pregame media session Monday.

Mike Fiers (0-3) was shelled for eight runs in four innings for Milwaukee, which lost its seventh straight. The Brewers have the worst record in the majors at 2-12.

For a change, the offense wasn't the main problem for the Brewers. They broke out for their highest-scoring game of the season despite a lineup littered with backups because of injuries.

''It's just a shame you score 10 runs and aren't even close to winning the game,'' manager Ron Roenicke said. ''But real good job by a lot of the guys offensively. We'll just see if we can get a good outing pitching and see if we can continue the offense.''

Elian Herrera, called up on earlier in the day, hit a grand slam in the sixth to get the Brewers to 13-10.

But the pitching staff just couldn't contain the Reds' bats. Cozart led off the top of the seventh with a solo shot.

''For us to score 10 there and not even be close to winning, I can't really explain it,'' Fiers said.

Jason Marquis (1-1) got the win despite giving up nine hits and five runs in five innings. He had eight strikeouts.

SLAM DUNK

It was the fourth time in major league history that two teams combined for three grand slams, and the first since the Yankees hit three slams against Oakland on Aug. 25, 2011.

Reds first base coach Billy Hatcher was involved in one of the other games, hitting a grand slam for Houston in a 22-7 loss to the Cubs on June 3, 1987. It was the last time there were three grand slams in a game in which both teams hit at least one, according to STATS.

''You have some guys who never hit one and I'm talking about some of your best hitters,'' Hatcher said. ''To see three in one game is crazy.''

HOMER HAPPY

The teams combined for seven homers, including five for Cincinnati.

Eight-place hitter Cozart now has three homers in two games and four on the season - matching his output for all of 2014.

But the middle of the order set the tone at the plate.

Frazier's homer in the fourth to left off Fiers made it 8-4, answering a four-run rally the previous inning by Milwaukee.

MISTAKE PRONE

Jason Rogers had two throwing errors at third for the Brewers. The first error off Brandon Phillips' bouncer in the third inning proved especially costly after the next batter, Bruce, hit his fourth career grand slam to open the scoring.

''Anyone will tell you, they love managing a game when you're up eight or 10 but we had a hard time keeping it up there tonight. Thank goodness we were able to lock it down,'' Price said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: C Devin Mesoraco made his first appearance since coming off the bench on April 12 against St. Louis. Mesoraco has been dealing with a sore hip. He walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh and scored a run.

Brewers: Roenicke said C Jonathan Lucroy could miss four to six weeks with a broken left toe. He got hurt on Monday. ... Scooter Gennett went on the DL on Tuesday after the second baseman cut his hand in the shower on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Herrera was called up from Triple-A to replace him on the roster.

UP NEXT

Reds: Johnny Cueto (0-2) hopes the offensive revival continues for his start on Wednesday. The 22 runs combined over the two straight victories exceeded the team's 19-run output during a 1-7 stretch preceding the trip to Milwaukee.

Brewers: Jimmy Nelson (1-1) is as close as the struggling Brewers have to a stopper these days. Milwaukee starting pitching had an ERA of 5.96 entering Tuesday, the worst in the majors.

You May Like

More MLB

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Don't get stuck on the sidelines! Sign up to get exclusives, daily highlights, analysis and more—delivered right to your inbox!